To wish people wouldn't chat in coffee shops

[SybilEngineer]

Sitting in Costa with a latte choc muffin and my iPad. Can't concentrate because I'm surrounded by people yattering on about the Queen's birthday celebrations, their ailments in too much detail, conducting interviews for dodgy sounding jobs and making loud phone calls.

AIBU to wish they'd STFU and let me enjoy my coffee in peace?

'what would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?'

Is there a preferred "right answer"?

I don't like it when people come and sit near me tbf. I am pretty anti social and like my own company.

Anyone who really doesn't want to share a table in a public space should sit at tables for one/at a counter. Or just not go to busy public places.

I met up with a friend for the first time in a while the other day in a Nerd. The conversation was mildly salacious with soap opera tones, and would have been delicious and even better if overheard from the next table. So yabu

The next table was wearing headphones and obviously using the WiFi and table as an office, so there was little chance of us actually being overheard.

what would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?'

grin Is there a preferred "right answer"?

"Find a company that asked less inane interview questions"?

There should actually be a coffee shop called Nerd. It would probably be quiet in there.

Wdigin - you need to work out how to do strikethrough properly before you go calling people stupid

I'd hate for total silence as I'd feel self-conscious. Would just appreciate a gentle hum of amiable chit chat.

Schwabis I think we are living in the same sort of place... 1950s indeed...

lol

I'm in Costa as and there is a very loud boy next to us crying because his lego fell on the floor. Poor DS is trying to do his homework and it is far too loud for him. And the aircon is on full blast so it's too cold. Honestly, you just can't find a decent coffee shop these days.

I read somewhere that the background noise in coffee shops is actually ideal for aiding concentration. But I guess that depends on how loudly the people next to you are chatting - and whether it's worth overhearing them! I love working on trains and in coffee shops - it makes me feel like I'm not actually working even though I am. And of course the coffee is superb compared to instant.

LisaMumsnet - surely MNHQ don't serve instant?!

Costa and Starbucks coffee is RANK. you could easily have coffee as good at home.

i think in general when people talk to loud like in restaurants or coffee shops ect it is irritating but I suppose some are naturally just loud speakers. My cousin laughs SO loud like literally everyone turns around when she laughs, it even annoys me.
But as other have said it is not a library, even though these days people natter in the library as well and in my local SLEEP

DH can tune the buggers out. I can't due to years as a primary school teacher. In fact I have to resist the temptation to tell them to stop chatting and get on with their work.

Very U!

I hate it when people treat coffee shops as offices/workspaces. Libraries are free. You clearly aren't in there just for the beverages. GO TO A FUCKING LIBRARY. If only to make sure they don't end up extinct.

Good thing I don't have kids. Don't know what I'd do.

It's nothing compared to the horror of innocently wandering in over half term and hitting a leisure-pool-like wall of sound and the sight of table after table of mummy's and their offspring. It always brings out my inner Baroness Bomburst.

Try the pub, it's even worse. The same inane drivel, but louder and drunker.

YABU.

Particularly because Costa neither sells nice coffee nor offers the type of acoustics conducive to other people's noise merging into a pleasant buzz.

Because in crowded coffee shops/casual restaurants, you are entitled to your chair but not a whole table that seats more than one.

I rather like the big communal tables that Pret A Manger have. You can get about a dozen people around one all blissfully ignoring each other :o

They can talk in coffee shops, but on long distance train journeys they need to STFU.

I had an awful journey at half term when a group of adults and teens on the way to a beer festival disturbed my peace for 1 hour whilst I was feeling not particularly great.

Is there a correct answer to the zombie apocalypse interview question? I'd imagine not, it would give a slight insight into the applicants personality though, it's not the sort of interview question one would expect and have a rehearsed answer for. And if the applicant screwed their nose up at the question then you'd know they have a rather large stick up their arse..

Costa neither sells nice coffee

Clearly millions of people disagree with you.

Just wrote a massive whiny post about students in coffee shops. Then it disappeared. Bloody Nora.

Clearly millions of people disagree with you.

They're not right.